Heritage

I was raised with a distinct awareness as to the family name I belonged to, as well as the equally responsible set of standards mandated to ensure its prominence and legacy. Clans are a thing, and we are Scots; this has been ingrained within my bloodstream since birth. And so, time and again, I teach our children that their behavior can either make or break their heritage and name, as well as serve as either a hindrance or a stepping stone to achievement.

Every single individual behavior results in some kind of consequence, whether positive or not. And it speaks volumes as to how everyday decisions can either bolster public perception or obliterate good intentions. "My word is my bond" is not archaic; but rather, powerful and transforming. It makes me want to cry out to the world that honor is the most valuable currency in any market today: it disavows the unconscionable, while simultaneously imbuing and endowing excellence.

All of this is a means and a definition of success, regardless of any varied representations, interpretations, or ideology. The advent of monetary gain can be sure, indeed, but the prosperity of a clan, and what it stands for, will impact generations due to the honor and integrity it came from.

Family matters. And heritage stands.

Living Joy - This Carman Girl

(Photo credit: Charles Harvey McConnell Jr.; or, Uncle Chuck - my mom's brother, displaying the McConnell plaid with his father, my great-grandfather.)